Eyewitness News looks into New York State gun laws
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 18, 2012
From the tragedy in Aurora, to Sandy Hook Elementary School, gun laws are on the minds of many.
The laws vary by state for different kinds of guns, but when it comes to owning a handgun, New York State has some of the toughest laws.
"To even possess, as people watching the story posess their cell-phone, if that were a handgun in New York State to posses that without a license, without having gone through a New York State background check and issued a New York State pistol license, it would be a felony to posses that gun," said Daniel Sullivan, Asst. Pistol License Officer of Oneida County.
For long arms, shotguns, and rifles, it's another process.
In New York State no license is required to own a shotgun or rifle.
Eyewitness News contacted several area gun shops about the process, but they declined to talk on camera.
We did talk to one area gun seller who says during the application process, a form is filled out by both the applicant and the associate.
It's then sent to NICS for a background check.
If everything clears, they say the process can take just 15 minutes or up to 30 days.
For owning a handgun, Sullivan says the process can take around six months to get a license.
"We require that they take a basic pistol course which gives them the familiarity with handguns. We require they fill out an extensive application. We look into domestic violence, we look into orders of protection," he said.
Sullivan does say when it comes to carrying and transporting rifles and shotguns, they must be unloaded.
A much stricter license is required to have a concealed handgun as well.
The laws vary by state for different kinds of guns, but when it comes to owning a handgun, New York State has some of the toughest laws.
"To even possess, as people watching the story posess their cell-phone, if that were a handgun in New York State to posses that without a license, without having gone through a New York State background check and issued a New York State pistol license, it would be a felony to posses that gun," said Daniel Sullivan, Asst. Pistol License Officer of Oneida County.
For long arms, shotguns, and rifles, it's another process.
In New York State no license is required to own a shotgun or rifle.
Eyewitness News contacted several area gun shops about the process, but they declined to talk on camera.
We did talk to one area gun seller who says during the application process, a form is filled out by both the applicant and the associate.
It's then sent to NICS for a background check.
If everything clears, they say the process can take just 15 minutes or up to 30 days.
For owning a handgun, Sullivan says the process can take around six months to get a license.
"We require that they take a basic pistol course which gives them the familiarity with handguns. We require they fill out an extensive application. We look into domestic violence, we look into orders of protection," he said.
Sullivan does say when it comes to carrying and transporting rifles and shotguns, they must be unloaded.
A much stricter license is required to have a concealed handgun as well.
